RTM vs. Traditional HEP: Why the Difference Matters

Most clinics delivering musculoskeletal care rely on home exercise programs (HEPs) to reinforce therapy between visits. For years, these programs have taken the form of paper handouts, printed diagrams, or static app libraries. They’ve always been part of the care model, but they’ve never been connected, trackable, or reimbursable.

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) changes that.

While HEP and RTM often overlap in practice, they are fundamentally different. RTM turns the passive, untracked nature of HEP into a structured, measurable component of care. Confusing the two can lead to missed billing opportunities, inconsistent adherence, and poor visibility into patient progress.

Here’s why the difference matters—and how Orva helps practices move from passive HEP to proactive RTM.

HEP is about instruction. RTM is about monitoring and measurement.

Traditional HEP tools give patients a list of exercises and hope they follow through. Whether printed or digital, these programs are designed to inform, not to track. Once a patient leaves the clinic, there’s no visibility into what gets done, how consistently, or whether anything needs adjustment before the next visit.

RTM brings structure and accountability to that process. With RTM, patient activity is recorded, time-stamped, and linked to specific goals. The provider gets measurable data on adherence, and the clinic can track who is on plan and who needs attention. This shift—from instruction to monitoring—is what unlocks both billing and better outcomes.

Orva makes this seamless by integrating clinically appropriate HEP content with automated activity tracking. There’s no guesswork. You see what patients are doing, how often, and whether they’re following the plan as prescribed.

HEP does not generate revenue. RTM unlocks new billing pathways.

HEPs are an expected part of care, but they’ve never been billable. Whether patients follow them or not, there’s no way to document or submit those efforts for reimbursement.

RTM changes the financial equation. Clinics that use a compliant RTM platform can bill for setup, device supply, ongoing monitoring, and review of patient data. When implemented correctly, RTM can generate between $125 and $400 per patient per episode. That’s recurring revenue tied directly to the same care you’re already delivering—just with better infrastructure behind it.

The key is using a system that meets CMS’s requirements: automatic data collection, accurate tracking, appropriate use of billing codes, and the ability to document clinical relevance. Orva is purpose-built for this. It’s not a general-purpose HEP app. It’s a platform that supports end-to-end RTM compliance, so practices can deliver better care while getting paid for it.

HEP often gets ignored. RTM is built for adherence.

One of the most frustrating aspects of traditional HEPs is how easily patients abandon them. Even highly motivated patients fall off track when exercises feel disconnected from progress, or when there’s no system in place to keep them accountable. Most clinics don’t realize patients have disengaged until they return to the office—weeks behind, in pain, or at risk of dropout.

RTM solves this by keeping patients engaged between visits. With clear daily actions, visual progress indicators, and a structured recovery path, patients know what they’re supposed to do and feel motivated to keep going. The routine becomes part of their day, not an afterthought.

Orva reinforces this with behaviorally informed design. Patients see their progress build over time. The experience is intentionally simple, with no unnecessary clicks or distractions. As a result, adherence rates rise, and clinics see more consistent recovery trajectories.

HEP is static. RTM provides real-time visibility.

When a patient completes a traditional HEP, there’s no real record of what they did or didn’t do. Providers are forced to rely on anecdotal reports or vague recollections during follow-up visits. This lack of visibility makes it difficult to adjust care plans effectively or identify early warning signs of non-compliance.

RTM gives clinics the ability to track patient activity in real time. You know how often patients are completing exercises, how long they’re engaging, and whether their activity meets thresholds for reimbursement. This allows for earlier intervention, clearer documentation, and more personalized care planning.

Orva presents this information in a simple, clinic-facing dashboard. Providers and staff can easily identify which patients are on track and which ones might need a closer look. There is no guessing, and no need to wait until the next visit to understand what is happening at home.

The Bottom Line

Traditional HEPs may still have a role to play, but they are no longer enough. They don’t provide the structure, data, or billing support that modern MSK practices need to grow. RTM is the next step—a way to turn routine care into measurable engagement and recurring revenue.

Orva helps clinics make that transition without overhauling their workflow or increasing staff burden. We combine easy-to-use patient tools with the infrastructure needed to support compliant, high-performing RTM programs.

Want to see how Orva turns HEP into something better? Schedule a demo and we’ll show you what’s possible when home care is no longer a black box.